After Mumbai teen's suicide, Rajya Sabha MPs demand action against online games like 'Blue Whale'

New Delhi: Days after a Mumbai teen committed suicide after allegedly playing an online game, the Rajya Sabha members on Thursday took up the issue and demanded strict action against such activities on the internet.

The issue was raised during the Zero Hour of the House by BJP's Amar Shankar Sable. Manpreet allegedly committed suicide last month by jumping from a building after playing the 'Blue Whale' game for 50 days.

Sable has pointed out that about 130 suicides linked to the game have taken place in America, Russia, England, and Italy.

Participants in the game are given instructions like 'watch horror movies', 'travel without a ticket in train', and later they are asked to commit suicide, PTI quoted him as saying.

"Manpreet has become the first victim (of the game)," he said and demanded measures to ensure young people are not affected due to the 'Blue Whale' game.

He said the matter was also raised in the Maharashtra assembly.

His party colleague Vikas Mahatme said there are other games also which are very interactive and addictive.

In agreement with the BJP members, Sanjay Seth of SP said there should be provisions to remove such games from the website.

Manpreet, a class IX student, jumped from the fifth floor of the building in suburban Andheri last month.

Originated in Russia, the deadly Blue Whale game or Blue Whale Challenge gives players a series of 50 tasks that culminates in suicide.

Participants are also asked to share photographic evidence of the tasks completed by them.

The tasks include watching horror movies, waking up at unusual hours and self-harming.

In his Zero Hour mention, Dilip Kumar Tirkey (BJD) said farmers in Odisha were facing problems in registration for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna due to technical problems in the portal.

AIADMK member Vijila Sathyananth said livelihood of beedi workers was being threatened due to 28 per cent GST on beedi.

(With PTI inputs)